Sony Reportedly Reconsiders Dropping Physical PlayStation Games, Possibly Due to Microsoft Xbox

IT Home, August 31 — Sony officially announced last month that starting in January 2028, newly released games for the PlayStation platform will be available exclusively in digital format, with no physical disc versions. This sparked an uproar both domestically and internationally, with many gamers strongly resisting the move.

According to a report today by tech media NoteBookCheck, rumors during the 2026 Gamescom suggest that Sony is considering delaying its original 2028 plan to phase out physical discs by one to two years.

It is understood that Sony's reconsideration of the physical disc phase-out is related to Microsoft. Judging by Xbox's current moves, Microsoft plans to continue supporting physical games.

Meanwhile, Microsoft recently announced a "disc-to-digital" feature, allowing players to convert eligible Xbox physical disc games into digital licenses. For Sony, this could pose a strategic dilemma. If the future PS6 adopts a purely digital format while Microsoft's next-generation Xbox, "Project Helix," still offers physical games, Xbox could gain a certain competitive advantage.

Of course, IT Home must point out that whether Sony will ultimately postpone or reconsider its plan to cancel physical discs remains unknown. Before an official explanation is provided, the aforementioned information should still be regarded as unconfirmed rumors.